Multiple coupling device

Abstract

A device for coupling a plurality of individual couplings includes a nipple plate with a plurality of individual male coupling components and a frame plate with a plurality of the individual female coupling components adapted to be coupled with the male coupling components. The frame and nipple plates are locked together prior to the individual male and female coupling components being coupled or uncoupled.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A device for coupling a plurality of individual couplings, said individual couplings including male coupling components and complementary female coupling components, comprising: a nipple plate having a plurality of said individual male coupling components;   a frame plate having a plurality of said individual female coupling components adapted to receive and be coupled with said male coupling components;   means for locking said frame and nipple plates together prior to said individual male and female coupling components being coupled together; and   means for coupling and uncoupling said male and female coupling components while said nipple and frame plates are locked together.   
     
     
       2. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein said means for locking includes a plurality of locking shafts projecting outward from said frame plate and a plurality of complementary lock coupling operators projecting outward from said nipple plate and adapted to engage said locking shafts and lock thereto. 
     
     
       3. The coupling device of claim 2 wherein: said locking shafts have a base section attached to said frame plate, an upper section with a locking recess, and a cam section between said base section and said upper section; and   said lock coupling operators include detent means for engaging said locking recess and locking said locking shafts within said lock coupling operators whereby said nipple and frame plates are locked to each other.   
     
     
       4. The coupling device of claim 3 further including handle means for disengaging said detent means from said locking recess whereby said nipple and frame plates can be uncoupled and separated from each other. 
     
     
       5. The coupling device of claim 4 wherein said handle means includes first and second handles connected to adjacent lock coupling operators and third and fourth handles secured to the upper surface of said nipple plate to enable an operator to squeeze said first and third handles together and said second and fourth handles together whereby said locking shafts are released from said lock coupling operators and said nipple and frame plates can be separated and uncoupled. 
     
     
       6. The coupling device of claim 5 wherein said lock coupling operators include: an inner cylindrical member with a bore therethrough to receive said upper section of said locking shafts with said locking recess;   detent means including detent balls carried in the wall of said inner cylindrical member;   a biased sleeve shaped element slidingly received within said inner cylindrical member adapted to engage said upper section of said locking shaft;   an outer, spring biased, sleeve shaped lock operator disposed in surrounding relationship to said inner cylindrical member having a locking position wherein said detent balls are engaged with said locking recess in said locking shaft; and   an unlocked position wherein said detent balls are secured between said biased sleeve shaped element and said sleeve shaped lock operator.   
     
     
       7. The coupling device of claim 2 wherein said male coupling component has a cylindrical male coupling section with a detent receiving groove which projects from a lower surface of said nipple plate. 
     
     
       8. The coupling device of claim 7 wherein said female coupling component has a cylindrical coupling section with a bore adapted to receive said male coupling component, a spring biased operating sleeve slidingly engaged with the outer surface of said cylindrical coupling section and detents disposed between said cylindrical coupling section and said operating sleeve to seat within said detent receiving groove when said operating sleeve is moved into a locking engagement to lock said male and female coupling components together in a coupled condition. 
     
     
       9. The coupling device of claim 8 further including a sleeve plate disposed between said frame plate and said nipple plate and attached to said cylindrical operating sleeve to move said operating sleeve into and out of locking engagement with said male coupling components. 
     
     
       10. The coupling device of claim 9 wherein said sleeve plate has cam engaging surfaces at either end thereof adapted to engage first and second spaced rotary cam shafts and move said sleeve plate between a first position where said operating sleeve is not in locking engagement with said male coupling components and a second position where said operating sleeve is in locking engagement with said male coupling components. 
     
     
       11. The coupling device of claim 10 wherein said means for locking said frame and nipple plates together includes a coupler plate located between said sleeve plate and said frame plate for movement from a resting position against said frame plate to a coupling position where said male and female coupling components are positioned to be coupled together. 
     
     
       12. The coupling device of claim 11 including an alignment pin secured to said frame plate adapted to be received in a bore through said nipple plate to orient said nipple and frame plates with respect to each other. 
     
     
       13. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein said male coupling component has a hollow, cylindrical, male coupling section with a detent receiving groove which projects from a lower surface of said nipple plate. 
     
     
       14. The coupling device of claim 13 wherein said female coupling component has a cylindrical coupling section with a bore adapted to receive said male coupling component, a spring biased operating sleeve slidingly engaged with the outer surface of said cylindrical coupling section and detents disposed between said cylindrical coupling section and said operating sleeve to seat within said detent receiving groove when said operating sleeve is moved into locking engagement whereby said male and female coupling components are locked together in a coupled condition. 
     
     
       15. The coupling device of claim 14 further including a sleeve plate disposed between said frame plate and said nipple plate and attached to said cylindrical operating sleeve to move said operating sleeve of said female coupling members into and out of locking engagement with said male coupling components. 
     
     
       16. The coupling device of claim 15 wherein said sleeve plate has cam engaging surfaces at either end thereof adapted to engage first and second, spaced rotary cam shafts and move said sleeve plate between a first position where said operating sleeve is not in locking engagement with said male coupling components and a second position where said operating sleeve is in locking engagement with said male coupling components. 
     
     
       17. The coupling device of claim 16 wherein said means for locking said frame and nipple plates together includes a coupler plate located between said sleeve plate and said frame plate for movement from a resting position against said frame plate to a coupling position where said male and female coupling components are positioned to be coupled together. 
     
     
       18. The coupling device of claim 17 further including lock housings secured to said coupler plate having cylindrical bores which slidingly receive said locking shafts so that said cam shaft sections of said locking shafts are located within said lock housings, said lock housings having a horizontal bore which rotatably secure the ends of said rotary shafts so that rotation of said cam shafts causes the first cam operating section of said shafts to engage the cam shaft sections of said locking shafts and move said lock housings toward said nipple plate and away from said frame plate. 
     
     
       19. The coupling device of claim 17 wherein said coupler plate engages said first and second rotary cam shafts to move said sleeve plate between said first position where said operating sleeve is not in locking engagement with said male coupling components and said second position where said operating sleeve is in locking engagement with said male coupling components. 
     
     
       20. The coupling device of claim 19 wherein said rotary cam shafts have first and second cam operating sections thereon whereby rotation of said cam shafts initially causes said first cam operating sections to raise said coupling plate to said coupling position where said male and female coupling components are positioned to be coupled together and then raises said sleeve plate to said second position where said operating sleeve is in locking engagement with said male coupling components. 
     
     
       21. The coupling device of claim 20 wherein said means for coupling and uncoupling said male and female coupling components includes lever arms operatively attached to said rotary cam shafts to rotate said cam shafts.